Boating with Infant

Why are you only worried about getting a ticket if caught....you baby would drown if your boat got in an accident and she doesn't have a coast guard approved life jacket on (Especially in a car seat, she'd go under and you'd never get her). I believe the coast guard approved jackets start at 15 lbs, until then it is not safe to have your baby in the boat under any circumstances. I'm not trying to lecure you, but it really is NOT safe for a baby that young to be in a boat. Next summer she will be plenty big enough to fit in a life jacket and your family can have loads of fun! Try and be patient.

When my son was a baby, we put him in the infant life jacket (which is horrible) and he hated it, but since he was so young, I would just hold him and he would fall asleep most of the time. If he stayed awake, I still held him but more upright trying to keep the life jacket out of his face. I know that will be hard for you since you have a 2 year old as well. My daughter was 4 at the time, so she was ok sitting by herself.

Have you tried the neoprene style? It's much more comfortable than the other kind and a little less bulky. We got ours at Costco.

Good luck and happy boating!
S.

well not legal but it helped our minds when we took our 2 month old on the boat. No life vest will fit a baby of that size but we took an extra large one and buckled her car seat in it so she was covered in a life vest. We figured if anything bad would happen at least if her car seat flew out of the boat she wouldn't sink. Nothing happend- and I realize probably not recommended but it worked for us.

I'm a former lifeguard and "outdoorsy." Regardless of whether you get caught or not --- your children need flotation devices for their own safety. I am not aware of flotation devices for infants. We had a flotation device for our child when he was big enough to hold his head up. Until then, he didn't go on a boat. Personally, I'm not comfortable with my children on the river until they can swim. I'm just paranoid. But I'm willing to wait because the risk is too great in my opinion. I hope you find an answer that works best for you and your family.

I think that is WONDERFUL that you take your kids boating!!! My in-laws have a boat and we took both our kids out in there boat when they were little however both mine never had a problem with life jackets as yours. The advice for the swimsuit/floating device sounds like a great idea. Or even talk to the people who patrole the waters you are playing at
I don't see anything wrong with taking kids at any age camping or boating.

My daughter would go boating with us all the time when she was just tiny. She loved it!!!!!! Are you sure you have the right jacket? The one we used zipped up, had a floaty behind her head, and a strap between her legs. I guess maybe she wasn't quite that tiny though. Don't feel bad about taking the itty bitties on the boat with you. They generally love the rock of the boat and I don't know about yours, but ours has a shade cover. Enjoy the outdoors and family time!!!

I agree that a baby younger than 6 month should not be on a boat. Older than that, they need a coast guard approved infant life jacket. The swim suits with floaties sewn in are not safe - if your child falls in the water, the swim suit would not keep the head above the water and he/she would drown anyway...
Those devices are only made for being in a pool under constant adult suvervision.

I would 1st of all suggest reading the owners manual on your car seat. I don't think they are approved for boating...actually I am quite certin that if you were to capsize the car seat would sink to the bottom like a stone and your baby right along with it.

The general rule is a baby shouldn't be on a boat until they are 18lbs (which is about 4 months old). This is the size that infant vests start at.

I used to boat with my children when they were babies and we just put them in life jackets. I never had an issue with the jackets being too big...I just went to a marina and bought a life jacket for an infant my son's size and we didn't have a problem. We lived in Michigan at the time and so there are a lot more marinas around and maybe that is why we had an easier time finding the right size jacket.

Here are a few articles I found on the subject for you:

http://www.uscgboating.org/about/faqs/safety.aspx#19

http://www.waterskiworld.com/vests/Infant_Life_Vests/infa...

http://www.babycenter.com/408_when-can-my-baby-go-on-a-bo...

OMG! How crazy can you be? Not only do you not supply a jacket, but you strap them into an object that will sink if thrown in the the water! Holy cow! Some people should never be allowed to have children. I pray your child makes it to 18.
WOW.

I'm not sure if there is a cabin area, but I take my son in there and they are not required to wear a life jacket inside. You may also consider wearing your child in a front or back carrier and if anything should happen, you would have them attached to you

Illegal or not, it's still dangerous. Go to WalMart and get one of those little kiddie swimming suits with a built in float. I'm not sure how young they make them, but you might find one small enough. Either that or call around to boating supply places or other places that sell preservers and see what they suggest. Good luck.

I'm going to soudn like a wet noodle compared to the other responses. And before you dismiss me - I see no problem taking infants camping or taking toddlers boating if the parents are taking proper precautions. That said - parents (that means you and your husband) have to sacrifice when you have children. A 2 mo old has no business being on a boat - it is not safe, they should not be in the sun or exposed to the heat or wind for any period of time, and there is no way the adult responsible (meaining not the one driving the boat and not the one watching the 2 year old) is paying 100% attention 100% of the time. There is a reason it is illegal - it it terribly dangerous. You need to get a sitter or stay on shore until she is at least 6 months old or older. We take our kids boating but they were not on a boat until they were 18 months old, had properly fitting life jackets w/the strap between the legs and there is never more children on board than there are adults. As for the post about being in the cabin w/out a life jacket....it's just beyond me - a kid on the water under 5 needs a life jacket - end of story! Our kids rely on us to keep them safe until they are adults - that is our job and you need to step up and do it.

I agree with much of what was said above, however my husband who does securtiy surveys for many maritime establishments has said they have a baby lifejacket that is similar to a cradle that you strap them into and they right themselves if in the water. He reccomends going to your local boating shop and talking to them...if they do not have them ask them to order it for you. Good Luck

We take our daughter in her carseat(8 weeks now, but 4 weeks the first time), but we have an enclosed cabin on our sailboat (the previous poster is correct -- kids don't have to have life jackets on in the cabin), AND we don't go fast or sail in dangerous winds. Our 3 year old has to wear his life jacket in the cockpit or the bow (where he can poke his head out and look around). At the first sign of high winds we take the sails down and slowly motor back to the dock. And, my husband can sail the whole thing solo so I can take care of the kids. If you are worried at all about the danger then get a babysitter. It will only be a couple of months before she's big enough for the tiniest life jackets (our smallest one says up to 30 lbs and 18 inch chest). Have fun!

Do they make the swimsuits with floatation in them for infants that little? I know what you mean about infant life jackets. When my son was one, he wore his, but it practically stretched out his neck because it rode up so high. But, you can bet he wore it anyway. He's almost 3 now and loves rafting, so does his older brother (5). Do what you feel comfortable with. The more you take your kids out on activities that you enjoy (and the younger they are), the more they will come to love them as well. Our oldest son went camping with us before he was a month old. It's his absolute favorite thing to do!

Maybe try to call coast guard to see what they suggest. That is great that your 2 year old doesnt fear getting on a boat, the earlier you get them used to your hobbies, the more enjoyable family hobbies can be! Enjoy your summer!

I personally would not even consider this, there is a reason the life vests don't work, what if you did have an accident? I would just keep the baby on land and take turns on the shore with the baby.